Mize Erica L, Tsao Jean I, Maurer Brian A
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
J Vector Ecol. 2011 Dec;36(2):308-20. doi: 10.1111/j.1948-7134.2011.00171.x.
The goal of this study was to evaluate the role of habitat in determining ectoparasite distribution of Peromyscus leucopus. We tested the hypothesis that ectoparasite occurrence is associated with particular host environments and this association is stronger for ectoparasites with limited interactions (i.e., ticks) than those with frequent interactions (i.e., lice). Ectoparasites from three different groups (Acari, Siphonaptera, and Phthiraptera) were collected from P. leucopus inhabiting a number of forested habitats in southern Michigan. Measurements of plant species structure and composition were collected and models were developed using quadratic discriminant function analysis to determine if habitats associated with ectoparasite presence were different from those associated with their absence. Mice parasitized by ticks were more likely to be found in areas having undergone a recent disturbance. Mice parasitized by ticks, fleas, and lice were more likely to be found in areas having tree species associated with dry soils. Our results show there is a distinct difference in habitats associated with the presence of ectoparasites, though we did not observe a stronger association of host habitat for ticks than for fleas or lice. This implies habitat should be included as an important component of assessments of the spatial distribution of ectoparasites.
本研究的目的是评估栖息地在确定白足鼠体外寄生虫分布方面的作用。我们检验了这样一个假设：体外寄生虫的出现与特定的宿主环境相关，并且对于相互作用有限的体外寄生虫（即蜱虫）而言，这种关联要强于相互作用频繁的体外寄生虫（即虱子）。从栖息于密歇根州南部多个森林栖息地的白足鼠身上收集了来自三个不同类群（蜱螨亚纲、蚤目和虱目）的体外寄生虫。收集了植物物种结构和组成的测量数据，并使用二次判别函数分析建立模型，以确定与体外寄生虫存在相关的栖息地是否不同于与其不存在相关的栖息地。被蜱虫寄生的小鼠更有可能在近期受到干扰的区域被发现。被蜱虫、跳蚤和虱子寄生的小鼠更有可能在有与干燥土壤相关的树种的区域被发现。我们的结果表明，与体外寄生虫存在相关的栖息地存在明显差异，尽管我们没有观察到蜱虫的宿主栖息地关联比跳蚤或虱子更强。这意味着栖息地应被视为体外寄生虫空间分布评估的一个重要组成部分。
